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Gaming Forums => Nintendo Gaming => Topic started by: UncleBob on July 28, 2011, 03:43:56 AM

Title: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: UncleBob on July 28, 2011, 03:43:56 AM
http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showthread.php?p=8706249
Quote
http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/pdf/2011/110728_3e.pdf (http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/pdf/2011/110728_3e.pdf)
 
 The U.S. will likely be $150. Expect it in august.
 
 For Japan, if you buy before august 11, 2011 -- the day of the price drop you get 10 free VC NES games and 10 free VC GB  advance games.
 
 http://www.nintendo.co.jp/info110728/index.html (http://www.nintendo.co.jp/info110728/index.html)
 
 http://www.nintendo.co.jp/info110728/detail.html (http://www.nintendo.co.jp/info110728/detail.html)
 
 Free VC NES games for 3DS:
 
 Super Mario Bros.
 Super Mario Bros.
 Donkey Kong JR.
 Balloon Fight
 Ice Climbers
 The Legend of Zelda
 + 5 more
 
 Free VC gameboy advance games for 3DS:
 
 
 Super Mario Advance 3
 Mario Kart Advance
 Metroid Fusion
 Wario ware
 Mario vs. Donkey Kong
 + 5 more
I can't read the links... any confirmation?
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: UncleBob on July 28, 2011, 03:45:52 AM
Holy sheit...

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=438813

Quote
REDMOND, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Nintendo of America today announced plans to drop the suggested retail price of its portable Nintendo 3DS™system to $169.99 in the United States, as new games based on some of the world’s most beloved video game franchises head to the system. The new price, down from the suggested launch price of $249.99 and effective Aug. 12, makes an outstanding value even better and sets up a strong holiday season for the system.

“For anyone who was on the fence about buying a Nintendo 3DS, this is a huge motivation to buy now,” said Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime. “We are giving shoppers every incentive to pick up a Nintendo 3DS, from an amazing new price to a rapid-fire succession of great games.”

Nintendo 3DS has the strongest software lineup of any video game system this holiday season and the new price now opens up the glasses-free 3D experience to many more consumers. Building on the popularity of The Legend of Zelda™: Ocarina of Time™ 3D, which launched June 19, the upcoming game calendar is a Who’s Who of iconic video game franchises. Star Fox 64™ 3D arrives on Sept. 9, followed by Super Mario™ 3D Land in November, Mario Kart™ 7 in December and Kid Icarus™: Uprising during the holiday season. In addition to great games, Nintendo 3DS has a host of attractive features* that make it the must-have video game system this season:

The new Nintendo Video™ service automatically delivers short 3D videos from the worlds of music, comedy, animation and Hollywood.
A free application allows Netflix members with unlimited streaming plans to instantly watch TV episodes and movies streaming from Netflix.
The Nintendo eShop is a digital store for Nintendo 3DS owners that provides access to a wide variety of downloadable content, such as original 3D software, classic games that have been re-mastered in 3D called 3D Classics, Game Boy™ and Game Boy Color “Virtual Console” games in their original 2D glory, and more than 350 Nintendo DSiWare™ games. Visitors can also view video game trailers, screen shots and product information for games, including those available at retail locations.

Since Nintendo 3DS launched in the United States on March 27, more than 830,000 people in the U.S. alone have purchased one to enjoy 3D visuals without the need for special glasses. These Nintendo 3DS owners represent some of Nintendo’s most loyal customers, and Nintendo is rewarding them for getting in on the action early with 20 free downloadable games from the Nintendo eShop.

These free games are available to anyone who owns a Nintendo 3DS system and uses a wireless broadband Internet signal to connect to the Nintendo eShop at least once before 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on Aug. 11. These users will automatically be registered in the Nintendo 3DS Ambassador program. The program contains two elements:

Starting Sept. 1, Nintendo 3DS Ambassadors will be able to download 10 NES™ Virtual Console™ games at no charge and before they are available in the Nintendo eShop to the general public. These games, including Super Mario Bros.™, Donkey Kong Jr.™, Balloon Fight™, Ice Climber™ and The Legend of Zelda™, are slated to become paid downloadable games, but Ambassadors get them early for free. Once the paid versions of the games are posted to the Nintendo eShop later in the year, the updated versions will be available to Ambassadors for download at no cost. By the end of 2011, Nintendo will provide Ambassadors with 10 Game Boy Advance Virtual Console games. These include games like Yoshi’s Island™: Super Mario™ Advance 3, Mario Kart™: Super Circuit, Metroid™ Fusion, WarioWare™, Inc.: Mega Microgame$ and Mario vs. Donkey Kong™. These games will be available exclusively to Ambassadors, and Nintendo currently has no plans to make these 10 games available to the general public on the Nintendo 3DS in the future.

More details about this program will be announced in the future.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: TJ Spyke on July 28, 2011, 03:49:09 AM
It does, it says Iwata is dropping the MSRP in Japan from 25,000 yen to 15,000 yen on August 11. Makes no mention of other regions though.

It also says Super Mario 3D (which they list as "Super Mario 3D Land") is set for November and Mario Kart 3D for December.

Edit: Crap, while I was trying to translate those Bob posted a new update. As for US, I am shocked, I guess Nintendo is really worried about sales. I would have expected a drop to $220, or at worse $200, not a $80 cut after 5 months.

Hmm, 830K in 5 months? That does seem low for the US.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: UncleBob on July 28, 2011, 03:52:05 AM
Official Nintendo of America press release:
http://press.nintendo.com/articles.jsp?id=30048

$169
Free Games.
Yay.

Now... what happens if I buy a second system for $250 during the "price adjustment" window, connect it to the eShop, then return it again, during the window and get the price adjusted to $170... do I still get the 20 free games?
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: TJ Spyke on July 28, 2011, 03:55:17 AM
Damn, we early adopters will get 20 free games? Including some of the best GBA games in Metroid: Fusion and Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3? This does take the sting out of paying $250 for it since anybody who buys the system after it drops to $170 will not get these 20 games for free.

I wonder if all those NES games will be 3D Classics, or is this announcing that the regular versions (like on the Wii) will be sold on the eShop?
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: UncleBob on July 28, 2011, 03:57:49 AM
Not only will they not get them free, but the GBA games are "exclusive" with "no plans" to release them to the general public (i.e.: those who buy post-price drop).

Granted, they probably will.... eventually...
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: Kwolf on July 28, 2011, 03:59:02 AM
Honestly I don't mind the price drop. I honestly kinda thought it would drop in price before the holidays, although I was thinking more 200 not 170. In fact it may be kinda sad, but I'm looking forward to my free games.   Also a few of my real life friends might pick on up now.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: TJ Spyke on July 28, 2011, 04:01:22 AM
I wonder if those of us who already connected to the eShop will need to do so again, or are do we already qualify?
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: BeautifulShy on July 28, 2011, 04:01:50 AM
This is pretty big news. I knew I woke up from my sleep for a special reason.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: that Baby guy on July 28, 2011, 04:04:52 AM
You forum people are too quick! I suppose it's fair. I couldn't just copy and paste the press release, and had to make it into a news story...

Regardless, this is a great decision by Nintendo. To me, those GBA releases make up for it. A lot of real quality titles there.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: SixthAngel on July 28, 2011, 04:12:23 AM
My DS just died so I'll probably pick one up now.  I've been fighting the urge to get it for a while because there just wasn't enough games but with my DS going kuput, Zelda (only played OoT on my buddy's n64), and a price drop it is looking like I'll finally take the plunge.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: stevey on July 28, 2011, 04:16:56 AM
Holy crap!
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: TJ Spyke on July 28, 2011, 04:17:08 AM
You gonna wait until the price drop? Why not get before the price drop so you can get these 20 free games as well? Because you only get these games if you get it before August 12 (which is when the price drops). I suppose people could try and game it by buying it like on August 10 at a place that matches price drops within a certain time period, then go back so they can get the system for $170 AND the 20 free games.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: SixthAngel on July 28, 2011, 04:23:20 AM
I'll take the cheaper price instead of the games.  Some of them are interesting but I've played most of the ones I'm really interested in.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: oohhboy on July 28, 2011, 05:44:45 AM
Been there, done that, with most of those games, so I would be taking the price drop instead. But I have to wait and see how it translate in other territories. The USD is flying in to the ground like a 2000lb laser guided bomb and if the price adjustment doesn't reflect that, I can wait. I refuse to continue supporting price gouging.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: TJ Spyke on July 28, 2011, 05:51:05 AM
The Japanese price will be $193. What price gouging? The US price is still cheapest.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: leahsdad on July 28, 2011, 06:54:09 AM
Well...if we were to do the math.  Taking the whole early availability thing out of the equation, we've got 10 NES games.  Assume they're $4.99 each, since NES games tend to be 500 points each on Wii VC.  That's $50.  Now look at 10 GBA games.  We don't know what their pricing would be, but it would surely be more than $3.99 (a premium GB game).  Let's say $5.99, for sake of argument (though, I'll bet you they'll be closer to $7.99).  That's $60 for 10 GBA games.  Total value?  $110.  Not shabby.

Of course, you do realize that this will cost Nintendo practically nothing.  And it's only a value if you're one of those sorry fools who checks the eshop every Thursday and downloads pretty much anything new that doesn't greatly suck.  Y'know, like me.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: Ceric on July 28, 2011, 08:46:10 AM
Alright, there is not a game in that list I don't want.  I'm soooo happy I got my 3DS but if Nintendo tries to jip me out of those games like they seem intent on my 40 coins for linking the system they will know my fury and it is fierce.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: oohhboy on July 28, 2011, 08:50:05 AM
The Japanese price will be $193. What price gouging? The US price is still cheapest.
(http://overpixelated.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/picard-facepalm2.jpg)
You need to read and comprehend. I said "Other territories", Which means places not "America" or "Japan", places not mentioned in the article, you know, the rest of the world where everybody else lives.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: gbuell on July 28, 2011, 08:56:11 AM
Why is the value of the USD important when converting a Japanese price to an Australian/European/whatever price?
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: oohhboy on July 28, 2011, 09:34:22 AM
International trade is priced in USD regardless of local currency, hence when the Yen gets strong, you hear Nintendo issue a press release bitching about reduced profits from outside Japan because they are getting less Yen for every dollar since their accounting has to be in Yen.

The USD has been tanking for a couple of years now which means for places like in New Zealand where the exchange rate used to be 2:1 to the USD is now nearing parity, which means by keeping the local prices as is, effectively raises the prices against us. (An Australian dollar now buys $1.11USD)

At present the 3DS sell in America for $250 retail, which means it should translate to $285.95NZD. However this is not true, It actually retails for $480NZD or $419.65USD. A premium of 68%! Now we do have sales tax of 15% that is pre-calculated into the price which mean $55USD tax, but that still leaves us at $365USD over a hundred dollars or 46% premium.

At the new price, $170USD, it should work out to about $200NZD. Keep in mind this is just for the console, the same price inflation extends to the games which are price between 80 to 90NZD or $78.69USD on the top end, almost double North America. This example is just New Zealand, but it is a pattern repeated in other western countries where the prices are pegged arbitrary are according to publisher. This even extends to online game purchases like Steam which can be quickly checked here (http://www.steamprices.com/au/topripoffs). For example, there was a Steam sale of Civ 5 for $17USD, but here that same sale was priced at $27USD, $10 dollars more for exactly the same thing.

Hence why the USD is important.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: KisakiProject on July 28, 2011, 10:29:29 AM
Well I feel like an idiot buying a 3DS day one.  I should have waited.  Picked one up in Aug with Zelda.  Oh well.

At least I get 20 free games.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: gbuell on July 28, 2011, 10:48:35 AM
I'm with you oohhboy, I didn't realize everything went through USD like that. Pretty terrible.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on July 28, 2011, 12:14:46 PM
You gonna wait until the price drop? Why not get before the price drop so you can get these 20 free games as well? Because you only get these games if you get it before August 12 (which is when the price drops). I suppose people could try and game it by buying it like on August 10 at a place that matches price drops within a certain time period, then go back so they can get the system for $170 AND the 20 free games.

You get an applaud for an excellent idea. maybe even 2 since I'm in a good mood.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: gbuell on July 28, 2011, 12:24:21 PM
I just bought one used for $179. I'm excited.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: alegoicoe on July 28, 2011, 12:41:52 PM
Finally i have an incentive to pick up a 3DS, no doubt i be picking one up august 12 along with a copy of Ocarina of Time, good day. Oh by the way GREATEST NEWS EVER!!!
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: noname2200 on July 28, 2011, 12:46:26 PM
At first I was annoyed at paying the full price when the price drop happened so early on. But the 20 free games has gone a fair way to pacifying me.

The Japanese price will be $193. What price gouging? The US price is still cheapest.

Does the Japanese price include sales tax as it does in Europe, or is that separate like in the US?
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: oohhboy on July 28, 2011, 01:08:28 PM
In Japan 5% is added at the till. However if your a tourist you can get that exempt if you make big purchases, like say a GameCube, 4 controllers and games.  But you maybe hit with sales tax at customs back in your home country. Most of the time customs won't look at you twice since the value of the items fall under another threshold meant to allow importation of goods for personal use and not to tie down the system billing every single person coming through the gate to check for taxable items.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: noname2200 on July 28, 2011, 01:22:06 PM
In Japan 5% is added at the till. However if your a tourist you can get that exempt if you make big purchases, like say a GameCube, 4 controllers and games.  But you maybe hit with sales tax at customs back in your home country. Most of the time customs won't look at you twice since the value of the items fall under another threshold meant to allow importation of goods for personal use and not to tie down the system billing every single person coming through the gate to check for taxable items.

Good to know. Thanks!
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: Chozo Ghost on July 28, 2011, 02:29:40 PM
Well I feel like an idiot buying a 3DS day one.  I should have waited.  Picked one up in Aug with Zelda.  Oh well.

At least I get 20 free games.

I'm glad you get 20 games for being an early adopter and paying the outrageous price the 3DS launched at, but let's be clear. You deserve those 20 games as compensation. They are not "Free" because it is something you deserve and Nintendo owes to you.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: TJ Spyke on July 28, 2011, 02:45:14 PM
What makes you think you "deserve" to get $130+ worth of free games? Companies don't owe you any thing just because they drop the price after you bought it. I was mad when I bought F-Zero GX for $50+tax and they dropped the price to $20 a few days later, but I wasn't demanding they compensate me for it.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: oohhboy on July 28, 2011, 02:54:16 PM
And there's the TJ Spyke we all know and love.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: oohhboy on July 28, 2011, 03:22:58 PM
Ahh **** sandwich. Article here (http://www.nintendo.com.au/index.php?action=news&nid=1098&pageID=6).

Australian price is at $249.95AUD or $275.31USD +61%
NZ price is $343.9NZD or $300.17USD +76%!

No new price information as of yet out of europe, However the Ambassador program has been confirmed (http://www.nintendo.co.uk/NOE/en_GB/news/2011/nintendo_3ds_ambassador_programme_44123.html) in full.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: gbuell on July 28, 2011, 04:14:33 PM
Well I feel like an idiot buying a 3DS day one.  I should have waited.  Picked one up in Aug with Zelda.  Oh well.

At least I get 20 free games.

I'm glad you get 20 games for being an early adopter and paying the outrageous price the 3DS launched at, but let's be clear. You deserve those 20 games as compensation. They are not "Free" because it is something you deserve and Nintendo owes to you.

That is absolutely untrue. For paying $249 for the 3DS at launch, Nintendo owes you exactly one thing: a 3DS at launch.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: Mop it up on July 28, 2011, 06:38:53 PM
If they want to benefit early adapters then they should cut the price of games too, they really should be $35 instead of $40.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: TJ Spyke on July 28, 2011, 07:21:19 PM
And there's the TJ Spyke we all know and love.

What? Because I think it's kind of a douche thing to think a company "owes" you something because you bought their product despite bitching about the price? No one forced you to pay for it, and Nintendo is choosing to reward those who bought the system early on.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: Chozo Ghost on July 28, 2011, 09:05:40 PM
But without the fans who buy the products companies like Nintendo wouldn't exist, so its in their best interest to make customers happy. Haven't you ever heard the saying that "the customer is always right"?

sorry, edited instead of replied -UB
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: UncleBob on July 28, 2011, 09:11:08 PM
Without the company making the products, the fans wouldn't exist either.

It's a simple, business relationship.  You give a company money, they give you a product.  Any expectations beyond that are only in your head.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: BranDonk Kong on July 28, 2011, 09:33:35 PM
Best deal - buy within 30 days (now) of the price drop, get your free games, and then get your $80 back. Just about every store has a 30 day price guarantee.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: Adrock on July 29, 2011, 12:46:36 AM
I'm already considering on doing that after I read a comment on Ars Technica. I've been playing my DSi a lot over the past week or so and I find the battery on that to be unacceptable so I still find the battery life on 3DS to be ungodly atrocious, but this is probably too good of a deal to pass up.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: bustin98 on July 29, 2011, 01:34:05 AM
Target offers a price guarantee if the item shows up in an ad cheaper than you bought it in the week of the purchase or the following week. Anyone know of other specific retailers that do price guarantees and what their policies are?
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: Mop it up on July 29, 2011, 01:40:19 AM
I have a feeling that retailers are going to take some kind of measure so they don't have to honour the difference of the impending price cut. For example, Amazon is currently taking pre-orders for the $169.99 3DS which is a separately listing from the $249.99 version, so that kind of thing probably wouldn't work with them.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on July 29, 2011, 01:41:51 AM
Best Buy has a 30 day price guarantee.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: oohhboy on July 29, 2011, 08:06:30 AM
Such a black and white relationship is what it is if the only thing you consider about a business is a spread sheet. There are many factors that are hard or impossible to measure that make real impact on the bottom line. Inside the company there are things like employee moral, happiness, loyalty, work environment, politics. Outside, brand loyalty, product satisfaction, goodwill, cultural sensitivities, habits, psychology(Not as rational is one would think).

They could have just cut the price and leave nothing for the early adopters. It would have made perfect sense to a robot accountant. It doesn't take into account of the unknowns. By doing so they drain these non-spreadsheetable resources. Just look at Nintendo's current position, they miss read the buying power of the consumers based effectively on one showing at E3 resulting in was should have been a Wii-like launch into something that can only be considered flaccid. This is a very real effect of something that isn't directly derivable from numbers alone.

In a logical perfect world it is a "Simple business relationship", but in the real world it isn't.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: Adrock on July 29, 2011, 08:25:24 AM
It's not much of a guarantee if retailers don't honor it. I'm going to Best Buy today to inquire.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: gbuell on July 29, 2011, 08:40:34 AM
Haven't you ever heard the saying that "the customer is always right"?

Sometimes I want to murder whoever came up with that terrible, terrible phrase.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: Shaymin on July 29, 2011, 08:43:32 AM
I really hope stores don't require you to return the physical system and take a new one home (that wouldn't get the freebies) to get the price protection. I can't see it happening, though.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: Adrock on July 29, 2011, 09:09:29 AM
About a week after I bought my current (now shitty) phone, AT&T ran a "$100 off all Blackberry phones" promotion. Even though my phone literally came out the day I bought it, it was included in the sale and the store associate very simply said I was eligible for the promotion since I was within the price guarantee period and put $100 back on my debit card.

I presume that's how it works at other retailers. If I buy 3DS next week and go back on August 12 to price match, they'll return the difference in whatever method of payment you originally used. I don't think you have to return the original system unless it was faulty or something.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: noname2200 on July 29, 2011, 12:24:23 PM
Haven't you ever heard the saying that "the customer is always right"?

Sometimes I want to murder whoever came up with that terrible, terrible phrase.

It's true though. It doesn't matter how fair or logical the customer is, he's not going to give you his money if you don't give him what he wants.

Anyhow, I hope that retailers do price-matching. I don't see why they wouldn't.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: UncleBob on July 29, 2011, 12:29:06 PM
The *only* potential issue I can see with price adjustments is, in my experience, the retailer will "return" your 3DS (at the old price) then "resell" the same 3DS (at the new price).

When they return/resell, they'll scan the serial number.

Ideally, this should flag to Nintendo that you didn't pay the full price for your system.

It's up to Nintendo if this would then render your system ineligible for the free games.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: noname2200 on July 29, 2011, 12:40:11 PM
Good point, I hadn't thought of that step. Still, I have a hard time imagining that Nintendo would bother to check with retailers and compare that list with the folks who've logged on to the eShop before the deadline, especially since *technically* all transmitting the games costs them is the few cent(s) of bandwidth.

Then again, penny-pinching isn't exactly unprecedented for Nintendo...
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: gbuell on July 29, 2011, 12:43:46 PM
Haven't you ever heard the saying that "the customer is always right"?

Sometimes I want to murder whoever came up with that terrible, terrible phrase.

It's true though. It doesn't matter how fair or logical the customer is, he's not going to give you his money if you don't give him what he wants.

In the context of all the 3DS owners who did give Nintendo $249 because, presumably, they wanted a 3DS, I don't see how that phrase is relevant.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: UncleBob on July 29, 2011, 12:50:15 PM
Good point, I hadn't thought of that step. Still, I have a hard time imagining that Nintendo would bother to check with retailers and compare that list with the folks who've logged on to the eShop before the deadline, especially since *technically* all transmitting the games costs them is the few cent(s) of bandwidth.

Then again, penny-pinching isn't exactly unprecedented for Nintendo...

It's not like some Nintendo intern would have to dig though stacks of papers to check the serial number.

It's simple coding.

X = 3DS Purchase Date
Y = 3DS Initial eShop Connection Date
IF X < 08/12/2011 AND Y < 08/12/2011 THEN AMBASSADOR=TRUE

All this information is stored digitally and can be collected via the right type of programing.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: noname2200 on July 29, 2011, 12:55:34 PM
In the context of all the 3DS owners who did give Nintendo $249 because, presumably, they wanted a 3DS, I don't see how that phrase is relevant.

Easy. Said people, myself included, would be pissed for paying an extra $80 for the exact same product, i.e. getting "punished" for buying in early. It's illogical and unfair, but also basic human psychology.

The classic example of this is when a rich guy tells a random crowd of people to line up in front of him so he can give each of them $50. He gives everybody in line ahead of you $50, but when your turn comes he apologizes profusely for not having enough cash on hand after all, and so he only gives you $20. Logically, you have no reason to be upset: you just got a free $20 bill, so yay! Of course, the more natural reaction is to think you just got stiffed. After all, everyone else got more than you did!

It's obviously not a perfect analogy for this situation, but it serves to illustrate the basic point: fair or not, early adopters would be pissed at getting "suckered" into paying more. Nintendo obviously knows this too, or they wouldn't be bothering to give away, what, $100+ worth of games, some of which will sell very, very well later on.

And just to bring it all home, a customer who feels slighted is less likely to be a customer in the future. Hence, "the customer is always right (even when he's not)."
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: noname2200 on July 29, 2011, 12:59:58 PM
It's not like some Nintendo intern would have to dig though stacks of papers to check the serial number.

It's simple coding.

When I said "bother" I didn't mean that the task was too hurculean to do. I meant that the number of people who are going to take advantage is probably pretty small, the cost to Nintendo of letting them slide isn't particularly high, and the potential public backlash/loss of goodwill might work against the purpose of the program (Can't you already read the Kotaku headlines?).

Which is not to say they won't do it anyways, but I think the odds are slightly better-than-even that they won't. We'll find out very soon, though!
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: Adrock on July 29, 2011, 01:08:06 PM
I didn't have my box when I went back to AT&T. I had my receipt and they scanned that. I don't think that's the same bar code. I'm not sure Nintendo can penalize users for a store's own policy. Additionally, I'm not sure how they'd pull this off by way of serial number. Eligibility for the games seems tied strictly to whether one connects to the eshop.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: UncleBob on July 29, 2011, 01:14:12 PM
I didn't have my box when I went back to AT&T. I had my receipt and they scanned that. I don't think that's the same bar code. I'm not sure Nintendo can penalize users for a store's own policy. Additionally, I'm not sure how they'd pull this off by way of serial number. Eligibility for the games seems tied strictly to whether one connects to the eshop.

Trust me - any major retailer scans the serial number for the system.  I have access to a neat little program that lets me view this information.

As for how they'd pull it off by serial number - that'd all be dependant on how Nintendo's entire system is set up.  Does the system send the serial number (or some other unique identifier that's tied to the serial number) when it connect to the eShop?

I'm not saying Nintendo *would* do this.  I'm just stating it's one possibility.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on July 29, 2011, 01:19:59 PM
The *only* potential issue I can see with price adjustments is, in my experience, the retailer will "return" your 3DS (at the old price) then "resell" the same 3DS (at the new price).

When they return/resell, they'll scan the serial number.

Ideally, this should flag to Nintendo that you didn't pay the full price for your system.

It's up to Nintendo if this would then render your system ineligible for the free games.

When does the ambassador program go live?
And I hope Nintendo wouldn't block all the 3DS' sold in the next 2 weeks and connected online as it is obviously the free games that prompted those sales. If they weren't offering the free games, I wouldn't even be interested in a 3DS yet and am more than happy to wait for a potential redesign (should one come) or more games that actually warrant a purchase from me.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: noname2200 on July 29, 2011, 01:23:33 PM

When does the ambassador program go live?
And I hope Nintendo wouldn't block all the 3DS' sold in the next 2 weeks and connected online as it is obviously the free games that prompted those sales. If they weren't offering the free games, I wouldn't even be interested in a 3DS yet and am more than happy to wait for a potential redesign (should one come) or more games that actually warrant a purchase from me.

From my understanding, any 3DS that accessed the eShop on or before August 11 qualifies, any that accessed on the 12th or later will not. The first batch of free games won't come until September 1, though.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: UncleBob on July 29, 2011, 01:41:31 PM
The *only* potential issue I can see with price adjustments is, in my experience, the retailer will "return" your 3DS (at the old price) then "resell" the same 3DS (at the new price).

When they return/resell, they'll scan the serial number.

Ideally, this should flag to Nintendo that you didn't pay the full price for your system.

It's up to Nintendo if this would then render your system ineligible for the free games.

When does the ambassador program go live?
And I hope Nintendo wouldn't block all the 3DS' sold in the next 2 weeks and connected online as it is obviously the free games that prompted those sales. If they weren't offering the free games, I wouldn't even be interested in a 3DS yet and am more than happy to wait for a potential redesign (should one come) or more games that actually warrant a purchase from me.

I'm not saying any 3DS sold between the announcement and the drop.  I'm saying it would be possible for them to block any 3DS sold between the announcement and the drop, then *returned/rebought* after the drop.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: Adrock on July 29, 2011, 01:51:25 PM
It's most likely possible. I just don't see it happening. That's the store's policy and Nintendo can't control that. Also, when they price match competitor's prices, isn't that the store taking the "loss" (technically not a loss since they got the sale as opposed to no sale)? Would the same apply with the manufacturer dropping the price and the store matching it? I imagine that stores institute these policies to encourage customers to return. That said, I feel like price matching would be on them, not the manufacturer of the product. Consumers, then, would be taking advantage of the system, not Nintendo.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: UncleBob on July 29, 2011, 01:56:36 PM
It's most likely possible. I just don't see it happening. That's the store's policy and Nintendo can't control that. Also, when they price match competitor's prices, isn't that the store taking the "loss" (technically not a loss since they got the sale as opposed to no sale)? Would the same apply with the manufacturer dropping the price and the store matching it? I imagine that stores institute these policies to encourage customers.

The store accepts the return from the original sale, then sales the inventory at the new, lower price.

Typically, these types of price cuts are accompanied by the supplier giving the stores a dollar amount for any of the inventory purchased at the higher price, but sold at the lower price.  So, generally, Nintendo will be taking the loss on anyone who does a return/rebuy for the price adjustment.

I'm not saying there will be a significant amount of people doing this or that there will be a significant loss for Nintendo/the retailer.  I'm merely pointing out that the plan of buying it before the price drop and trying to get the free games *may* not work for a very realistic reason - and that anyone who's considering taking advantage of this (myself included) should be aware of that potential risk.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: Adrock on July 29, 2011, 02:13:38 PM
Understood. I'm still on the fence because I know I don't necessarily want one for anything other than a good deal and knowing that I would most likely purchase one in the future unless I absolutely knew a 3DS player was being released which clearly I don't (and it seems to good to be true and nintendo would have to find a way to make that work). With an inevitable purchase, I'm between deciding to purchase now or purchase later.

I'm considering this with the assumption that the whole Kansas City Shuffle buy/return/rebuy may or may not work. I think I'd be okay either way though I'd certainly prefer getting the games AND price drop.

I'm still siding that the switcheroo will work. Nintendo can't assume people are actively doing that. If little Suzi, unaware of the Ambassador Program, gets a 3DS from her grandmother and gets a message from Nintendo inviting her to download FREE GAIMEZz, but her mom does the price match, that certainly sucks for little Suzi.

The way Nintendo phrased the offer (connecting to the eshop before August 12) puts them in a tough position should they choose to not honor it if someone beats the system by price matching. Nintendo was not specific about people paying $250. Someone who purchased a used 3DS should be eligible as well.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: apdude on July 29, 2011, 02:16:51 PM
I'm all for the "get what you can" mentality, but realize you are trying to "game" the system and take advantage of Nintendo's goodwill gesture because you've justified this by saying an $80 price drop is not good enough and that Nintendo owes you 20 games as well.

Good luck to those who try, but if they do end up blocking those who do this don't expect to find sympathy from me.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: Chozo Ghost on July 29, 2011, 03:42:22 PM
I'm all for the "get what you can" mentality, but realize you are trying to "game" the system and take advantage of Nintendo's goodwill gesture because you've justified this by saying an $80 price drop is not good enough and that Nintendo owes you 20 games as well.

Good luck to those who try, but if they do end up blocking those who do this don't expect to find sympathy from me.

I agree. It isn't fair to the early adopters who this whole thing is specifically intended for. I hope Nintendo is able to block it for those who don't deserve the free games.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: Mataata on July 29, 2011, 04:58:22 PM
Nintendo deserves every cent of my 250, so I'm not angry at all with the price drop. It's really nice of them to hand out all the free stuff, too.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on July 29, 2011, 05:14:56 PM
I'm all for the "get what you can" mentality, but realize you are trying to "game" the system and take advantage of Nintendo's goodwill gesture because you've justified this by saying an $80 price drop is not good enough and that Nintendo owes you 20 games as well.

Good luck to those who try, but if they do end up blocking those who do this don't expect to find sympathy from me.

I agree. It isn't fair to the early adopters who this whole thing is specifically intended for. I hope Nintendo is able to block it for those who don't deserve the free games.

(http://i.imgur.com/Jel4Z.gif)
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: alegoicoe on July 29, 2011, 08:53:01 PM
I think  the internet is over reacting to nintendo's 3ds price cut, there are sites like ign putting articles like nintendo is doom and i also went to gonintendo.com and saw another like it, this is like all over 2006 again when the industry and the media declared the Wii dead since the start of the systems life and turns out that it kicked major ass, the media is a good thing, but some times they just over do it.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: Spinnzilla on July 29, 2011, 09:06:27 PM
Maybe I missed it, but when are the NES and GBA download available?
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: TJ Spyke on July 29, 2011, 09:07:51 PM
The NES ones will be available starting September 1 and the GBA ones sometime by the end of the year, they haven't been more specific.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: Oblivion on July 29, 2011, 09:16:02 PM
I'm all for the "get what you can" mentality, but realize you are trying to "game" the system and take advantage of Nintendo's goodwill gesture because you've justified this by saying an $80 price drop is not good enough and that Nintendo owes you 20 games as well.

Good luck to those who try, but if they do end up blocking those who do this don't expect to find sympathy from me.

I agree. It isn't fair to the early adopters who this whole thing is specifically intended for. I hope Nintendo is able to block it for those who don't deserve the free games.

Oh yes, Nintendo is like the video game CIA where they know how much you paid for your 3DS. All I see is "whine whine whine".
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: BranDonk Kong on July 29, 2011, 09:38:46 PM
The best part of this is I only paid $125 for my 3DS (brand new) to begin with, and I still get 20 free games.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: leahsdad on July 30, 2011, 12:35:10 AM
Quote
I'm not saying there will be a significant amount of people doing this or that there will be a significant loss for Nintendo/the retailer. 

Actually, I'm curious about how many people will try this, and whether that number would be significant enough in any way for Nintendo or a big box retailer to police this.  If you consider how low the rate is for people to connect their consoles or game devices to the internet (less than %50 across all devices, I heard, even Xbox), it's probably fairly low for the 3DS, even if the current 3DS "population" is early adopters.  And also, just how many people will even hear about the ambassador program?  What if you don't read gaming websites?  What if you don't regularly check Nintendo's website?  What if you, like me, hardly ever read your spotpass messages, if at all? 

And then, on top of that, how many 3DS owners are retro gamers and place value on those old NES and GBA games? 


I think if we knew some more information, like for example, how many copies of Link's Awakening have been sold on 3DS VC, then we might get a clearer picture.  But since that information is closely guarded by Nintendo, and always will be, we'll never know.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: TJ Spyke on July 30, 2011, 12:45:34 AM
A lot of mainstream websites were reporting the news too, not just gaming sites.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: Adrock on July 30, 2011, 01:04:30 AM
Even so, and especially so, how many people are going to attempt to circumvent the system by taking advantage of a retailer's money back guarantee/policy using knowledge of an upcoming price drop? That's a pretty convoluted scheme just for the sake of saving $80 and receiving 20 old titles, many of which anyone who's even mulling this over have probably already played/completed.

My affinity towards sweet deals knows no bounds so while I'm currently undecided, I will most likely engage in said wheelings and dealings.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on July 30, 2011, 01:38:11 AM
I will be picking up a 3DS tomorrow evening.

I will be getting it online & registered tomorrow nite.

I will be getting my price guarantee in no less than 2 weeks from tomorrow.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: leahsdad on July 30, 2011, 03:56:34 AM
Quote
A lot of mainstream websites were reporting the news too, not just gaming sites.

Well, I've seen lots of stuff about the price drop, but I haven't seen too many non-game outlets report on the ambassador program.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: GaMMa on July 30, 2011, 11:35:54 AM
I remember waking up and the price drop was the first story I read. I was thinking this was some kind of April Fool's joke or something. Then I saw we're getting 20 free games and I thought it was too good to be true.
 
I think Nintendo has a lot of work ahead of them to make this console successful. The mainstream media is blaming "poor" sales on iPhone and Android games. As far as I can tell Nintendo hasn't officially acknowledged these games are a threat. I could see the handheld gaming market going the way of cameras and MP3 players. The market is going to continue to shrink as more people get smartphones. If Nintendo made a console that could answer phone calls I think they'd see great success in America.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: GoldenPhoenix on July 30, 2011, 02:57:49 PM
I remember waking up and the price drop was the first story I read. I was thinking this was some kind of April Fool's joke or something. Then I saw we're getting 20 free games and I thought it was too good to be true.
 
I think Nintendo has a lot of work ahead of them to make this console successful. The mainstream media is blaming "poor" sales on iPhone and Android games. As far as I can tell Nintendo hasn't officially acknowledged these games are a threat. I could see the handheld gaming market going the way of cameras and MP3 players. The market is going to continue to shrink as more people get smartphones. If Nintendo made a console that could answer phone calls I think they'd see great success in America.

Before NIntendo starts freaking out over the smartphone industry, they should address the 3DS's biggest problem now, games. Even the DS had a couple exclusive/non-remakes come out for it shortly after launch. I think it is really jumping the gun to blame it on the mobile market, especially considering how well the DS is still selling and has sold. Let's face it until the mobile market has decent controls for traditional games (aka not touch screen controls) there will always be a reason to pick up a handheld like PSP Vita or 3DS. I love my iPhone 4 but it is far from being a replacement for handheld systems, it is great for more casual games but if I want to play a traditional game, the 3DS/DS will win everytime and I doubt I'm the only one.

It is strange people keep on harping on the mobile market being the problem when the DS/PSP were still seeing good sales even up to a couple of months ago. That indicates people still want handhelds like that, and that there is another problem that needs to be addressed with 3DS, which is, as said before games, especially since the other concern by some, price, was addressed.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: Lithium on July 31, 2011, 10:12:31 AM
I hope there's a DSi XL price drop on the horizon, I still play plenty ds and have tons of games on my backlog :D
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: Flames_of_chaos on July 31, 2011, 08:50:03 PM
I hope there's a DSi XL price drop on the horizon, I still play plenty ds and have tons of games on my backlog :D

I doubt it, because at this point Nintendo would want to convert potential DSi sales to 3DS sales especially with how 3DS is going to be $20 more than a DSi and the same price as an XL. It's more critical for Nintendo to grow the 3DS user base, and for consumers they esentially get the best of both worlds since 99% of all DSiWare is available on 3DS.


Also, at this point a DSi is not worth buying unless you're in the camp of how DS and DSi games played on 3DS look "worse" than they are when played on a DSi/DSi XL. 
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: Lithium on July 31, 2011, 10:55:24 PM
I hope there's a DSi XL price drop on the horizon, I still play plenty ds and have tons of games on my backlog :D
unless you're in the camp of how DS and DSi games played on 3DS look "worse" than they are when played on a DSi/DSi XL.

yeah thats basically the reason why im still looking at a dsi XL, I have big hands so the ds lite gives me cramps
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: Mop it up on August 01, 2011, 01:19:57 AM
It'd be a bad idea to keep the DSi XL price the same as the 3DS. Nintendo is already having a tough enough time differentiating the 3DS from the DS/i, so selling them at the same price doesn't illustrate the superiority of the 3DS.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: NWR_insanolord on August 01, 2011, 09:46:50 AM
Amazon has the 3DS available right now for $216, so you could get almost half the price drop and still get the 20 free games.

http://www.amazon.com/Nintendo-3DS-Cosmo-Black/dp/B002I096AA/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1312206106&sr=8-4
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: Ceric on August 01, 2011, 09:59:55 AM
If the goal is to get more 3DS's out into people hands I would not drop the prices of any of the DS's further.  I also lower my outgoing supply to them to retailer making it harder for people to find a DS.  Just phase the whole DS line out since the 3DS has BC.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: noname2200 on August 01, 2011, 03:58:00 PM
It'd be a bad idea to keep the DSi XL price the same as the 3DS. Nintendo is already having a tough enough time differentiating the 3DS from the DS/i, so selling them at the same price doesn't illustrate the superiority of the 3DS.

It'd be a fun, if expensive, experiment, though: with price being equal, what is the real-world level of demand for the 3DS vis-a-vis its predecessor?
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: Mop it up on August 01, 2011, 08:55:33 PM
If the 3DS can do everything that the DSi can do plus more, then there may not be a reason to keep it on the market. The only reason would be to offer a model at a lower price, but if they are not going to do that, then there's no reason to keep the DSi on the market. The DS Lite can play GBA games, but at this point that probably doesn't mean anything to potential buyers. There's a rumour that production has stopped on the DS Lite, and I haven't seen any in a while so it may be true, but it isn't confirmed.

Amazon has the 3DS available right now for $216, so you could get almost half the price drop and still get the 20 free games.

http://www.amazon.com/Nintendo-3DS-Cosmo-Black/dp/B002I096AA/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1312206106&sr=8-4
*stomps foot*
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: TJ Spyke on August 01, 2011, 08:59:18 PM
I saw a DS Lite at Walmart today, along with a big sticker on the case advertising the current price after they lowered it a couple of months ago. They kept making the GBA SP for a few years after the DS came out, and it kept selling really well. The DSi still sells well, so they may not want to drop it yet.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: Mop it up on August 01, 2011, 09:06:52 PM
Yeah, it could be risky to drop the DS line, but Nintendo really wants to (and kind of needs to) get the 3DS userbase up. Since the 3DS offers everything the DSi can do plus so much more, would anyone not buy a 3DS who wanted a DSi but they're not available anymore? It'd be a bit of an aggressive move, but it could help spur 3DS sales further.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: TJ Spyke on August 01, 2011, 09:11:58 PM
It could backfire though. When Sega launched the Saturn in 1995 (1994 in Japan), they killed support for the Genesis despite the fact that it was still selling well. It would be a gutsy move, but could end up costing them money. Maybe reduce the price and have it marketed it as a secondary system. I would always recommend someone get a 3DS instead though.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: MegaByte on August 02, 2011, 01:15:45 AM
When Sega launched the Saturn in 1995 (1994 in Japan), they killed support for the Genesis despite the fact that it was still selling well. It would be a gutsy move, but could end up costing them money. Maybe reduce the price and have it marketed it as a secondary system.
That's not really a fair comparison though, particularly since the Saturn was not backwards compatible. And they did relaunch the Genesis as a secondary system, in a way -- the Sega Nomad.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on August 02, 2011, 01:27:33 AM
Got my 3DS from Best Buy..... $270 After tax!? I almost returned it 5 minutes later....

I can only imagine the people that brought it up to the counter and saw the total and then took it back to the shelf and left the store. I contemplated buying a game too, but I think I'm tapped and will wait or a sale and my free games instead.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: Adrock on August 02, 2011, 01:41:12 AM
I'm hoping Target has another one of those buy 2 games, get 1 free deals like they did last year.

I played around with the 3DS a bit today. The battery life pretty much sucks out loud. I flat-out asked the guy in the games department how the price matching policy works and he said if Nintendo drops the price, Best Buy has to honor it though I may end up with a Best Buy gift card which is fine, I was planning on buying my new phone from Best Buy anyway. Yeah, I'm exploiting the system. I'm okay with it.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on August 02, 2011, 02:06:21 AM
I posed it to them as a hypothetical question

"If I bought a.... Sony Bluray player, and then 2 weeks later Sony dropped the price of that Bluray player $60 everywhere, would you make up the difference?"

He said they would honor it within 30 days, so I bought it.
(My sister, who works @ BB, already confirmed it for me last week, but a second opinion never hurts)
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: Ceric on August 02, 2011, 10:35:17 AM
I posed it to them as a hypothetical question

"If I bought a.... Sony Bluray player, and then 2 weeks later Sony dropped the price of that Bluray player $60 everywhere, would you make up the difference?"

He said they would honor it within 30 days, so I bought it.
(My sister, who works @ BB, already confirmed it for me last week, but a second opinion never hurts)
Alright,

1.  I heard back in the day BB workers had a generous discount.
2.  I watch Toys R' US because they are fond of Buy one Get One Half off
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on August 02, 2011, 12:49:31 PM
1. Best Buy's "generous" employee discount ended on Sunday.
Most employees no longer have the only perk of working there and now have little reason for dropping their right back into the store.

2. I'm waiting for that TRU sale. Amazon just had one, but the selection was limited to crap.
Once a nice sale starts, Amazon will usually match it. The best part is when all the stores stagger their sales and Amazon does their best to match it, but Amazon has to start charging tax in CA soon, so I don't know if I'm still gonna go the Amazon route unless it's still cheaper.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: MegaByte on August 02, 2011, 05:10:47 PM
The relevant law already went into effect last month, but Amazon shut down their associates program in California to continue avoiding paying/charging CA tax.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on August 02, 2011, 05:57:57 PM
Alright then, I can continue not paying tax and getting free shipping from Amazon.
All is still good in the world of online shopping.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: Ceric on August 02, 2011, 06:01:20 PM
I feel messed over because I think I had to pay taxes on my last few Amazon purchases.

Ah ha.  They didn't.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: TJ Spyke on August 02, 2011, 06:03:38 PM
Technically you are still required to pay those sales taxes. The only difference is you pay them on your tax return at the end of the year instead of directly to Amazon. I am not sure how many people get in trouble for not doing it though. And California is already working on changing the law to make Amazon have to collect sales tax because they ship products to California (so they still do business in the state).
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: Ceric on August 02, 2011, 06:08:01 PM
Yeah.  In TN I'm suppose to also pay the difference between what I pay in Sales Tax in another state and what I would have paid in my Hometown in TN.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on August 02, 2011, 06:21:43 PM
GiantBomb has translated an Apology Letter to Nintendo 3DS Owners from Iwata
http://www.giantbomb.com/news/read-satoru-iwatas-apologetic-letter-to-existing-3ds-owners/3546/
Quote from: Iwata
To Those Customers Who Bought A Nintendo 3DS Before The Price Change

Greetings, everyone. This is Satoru Iwata from Nintendo.

Thank you very much for purchasing a Nintendo 3DS.

We have just announced a price drop for the Nintendo 3DS system effective on August 11 [August 12 in North America].

In the past, there have been price drops for video game systems some time after their release in order to broaden the user base further. However, never before has Nintendo chosen to issue such a dramatic price drop less than 6 months after a system release.

We are all too keenly aware that those of you who supported us by purchasing the 3DS in the beginning may feel betrayed and criticize this decision.

This unprecedented timing for a price cut is because the situation has changed greatly since we originally launched the 3DS. We decided it was necessary to take this drastic step in order to ensure that large numbers of users will continue to enjoy the 3DS in the future.

If the software creators and those on the retail side are not confident that the Nintendo 3DS is a worthy successor to the DS and will achieve a similarly broad (user) base, it will be impossible for the 3DS to gain popularity, acquire a wide range of software, and eventually create the product cycle necessary for everyone to be satisfied with the system.

Those customers who purchased the 3DS at the very beginning are extremely important to us. We know that there is nothing we can do to completely make up for the feeling that you are being punished for buying the system early. Still, we would like to offer the following as a sign of our appreciation to you.

[3DS Ambassador program details]

We feel a strong responsibility to develop the 3DS as a platform -- to ensure that, in the end, everyone is satisfied; we will make every effort to do so.

Additionally, we know everyone is waiting for Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7. They are scheduled for release in November and December, respectively, so we ask for your patience until then.

Thank you again, and we look forward to your continued support.

apparently there was one from NOE too.
Looks like NoA is still not in the business of appeasing it's state side fanbase though.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: Ceric on August 02, 2011, 06:37:37 PM
We all know It would summarize as 'FU loyalist we are only doing this because Japan says to.'. In NCL's infinite wisdom they decided to save the money and not send that.

More proof NoA keeps becoming more of a joke and detriment everyday to one of there/their/they're largest markets.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: alegoicoe on August 02, 2011, 07:44:29 PM
I went to amazon today and saw the 3ds for $204.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: MegaByte on August 02, 2011, 07:47:18 PM
It's fluctuating because the various suppliers are setting different prices.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: alegoicoe on August 02, 2011, 07:56:15 PM
the one place i haven't seen a decrease has been at gamestop online.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: UncleBob on August 04, 2011, 08:45:26 PM
A particular major retailer is dropping the price a few days early.
http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showthread.php?p=8729484#post8729484

This'll let you get in on the ambassador program without the "price adjustment" business.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on August 04, 2011, 11:22:03 PM
If only I had waited.....

no worries though.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: Mop it up on August 05, 2011, 01:42:33 AM
*rips a pillow in half*
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: bloodline4 on August 05, 2011, 10:09:58 AM
when do i get the 20 free games like lol havent gotten them yet
 :-X  so scared
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: noname2200 on August 05, 2011, 12:53:38 PM
when do i get the 20 free games like lol havent gotten them yet
 :-X  so scared

No free games* for you!



*Unless and until you build a time machine. Or wait a month. Whichever's easier.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: kraken613 on August 05, 2011, 04:26:28 PM
So tempting....
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: alegoicoe on August 06, 2011, 03:35:28 PM
If is true about walmart lowering the price two days before the 12, i will get its for sure, if not i'll just wait for after the 12.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on August 06, 2011, 04:08:44 PM
You can price match at Best Buy up till 30 days after purchase.
You can Price match at Toys R Us up till 14 days after purchase.

There is no reason to miss out on the 20 free games if you are gonna buy it on the 12th anyway.

Buy it now, take your receipt back to the store on the 12th and get your refund.
This is one of the moments where you get to have your cake and eat it too.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: Chozo Ghost on August 06, 2011, 10:26:52 PM
The point of the ambassador program was to compensate those who paid $250. By exploiting the system and making a mockery of it by getting both the low price and the games it is like a slap in the face to those who this was supposed to be for....
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on August 07, 2011, 12:31:13 AM
Dear Chozo's Face:


SLAP!!!


(http://i.imgur.com/jjLG5.gif)
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: UncleBob on August 07, 2011, 12:44:07 AM
The point of the ambassador program was to compensate those who paid $250. By exploiting the system and making a mockery of it by getting both the low price and the games it is like a slap in the face to those who this was supposed to be for....

Boo-freakin'-hoo.

I bought my 3DS at launch.  Paid full price and waited in line (alone) for about 12 hours.

I'm actively encouraging people to take advantage of any (legitimate) way that the can get the cheaper price *and* the 20 free games?  Why?  Because I want to see more people with 3DSes.  I want publishers to see that the 3DS is worth developing for.  I want to get more Street Passes.  I want to see the 3DS succeed.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: Adrock on August 07, 2011, 01:10:33 AM
What is this self-righteous bullshit? Every early adopter knows the risks involved in embracing new technology. The benefit is that they get it first. People who bought 3DS prior to Nintendo announcing the price drop and ambassador program did so on their own volition, without a gun to their head and without expecting compensation. You aren't entitled to anything just because you paid full price. You're lucky Nintendo is giving you anything. Why don't you just be happy you're getting something instead of being butt-hurt because some people circumvented the system?

Those who are taking advantage of the loophole lucked out by waiting. What's most important is that more people are buying 3DS and I think Nintendo can live with that. Nintendo can't sell their games if no one has the hardware to play them on. It's a successful trade-off for them.

1 internet point for BlackNMild2k1 and UncleBob. I wish I could give BlackNMild2k1 an extra internet point for the My Little Pony gif. Lulz.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: noname2200 on August 07, 2011, 01:44:06 PM

I bought my 3DS at launch.  Paid full price and waited in line (alone) for about 12 hours.

Ouch! That's just...yeowch!

Anyways, I don't see how anyone can object to others having their cake and eating it too. We early adopters either thought the system was worth $250, or like me gambled that it would be and wound up losing. If other folks can get the cheaper price and the free games I'll be envious but, since it literally doesn't affect me in any way, shape, or form, I encourage them to get all they can.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: Stogi on August 07, 2011, 04:32:59 PM
You crafty sons of bitches. I love it.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: Adrock on August 07, 2011, 05:28:58 PM
I picked up Ocarina of Time and Resident Evil: Mercenaries 3D today. Toys R Us was having a buy 1 get 1 for 40% off today (until Tuesday) so I folded. I didn't pay full price for these games so if anyone wants to bitch about that, now is the time.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: gbuell on August 07, 2011, 06:23:42 PM
I really want Mercenaries, report back.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: Mop it up on August 10, 2011, 09:09:17 PM
The point of the ambassador program was to compensate those who paid $250. By exploiting the system and making a mockery of it by getting both the low price and the games it is like a slap in the face to those who this was supposed to be for....
It is a little irritating, but people will try to get the best deals they can. I can't say I wouldn't be doing the same thing if I didn't already have one. If Nintendo really cared about that though, they would have just dropped the price instead of announcing it like they did. That didn't really seem like the best of ideas.

Oh well, as has been stated by others, if this means more 3DS systems out there, that can only be a good thing, to both current and future 3DS owners.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: Chozo Ghost on August 11, 2011, 08:00:15 AM
If Nintendo really cared about that though, they would have just dropped the price instead of announcing it like they did. That didn't really seem like the best of ideas.

I agree. They should have just said "this is effective immediately" the moment they announced it.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: Adrock on August 11, 2011, 08:40:39 AM
Then, all of the people who already had 3DS but never logged into the eshop would have been the denied the free games. How do you suppose Nintendo would have regulated who had a 3DS prior to the effective immediately price drop date? Of course, Nintendo could have just NOT offered any compensation to early adopters but you'd just be bitching about that instead.

See, the problem is that there's no way to please you. Don't drop the price and sales suffer, meaning you're screwed in the long-run since that affects 3rd party support. Drop the price, increase sales, but you want compensation, except only for you and other early adopters. You're calling shenanigans on people who want to have their cake and eat it too but you want the same thing. You're just bitter because you can't which is ridiculous.

Nintendo made the right choice. They compensated early adopters when they didn't have to and they announced the price drop in advance to give early adopters time to log into the eshop had they not already. Sure, some people circumvented the system but Nintendo still nets those sales. It's pretty much win-win for them.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: Drizzt on August 11, 2011, 10:14:20 AM
Especially since once they pay off the r and d They're basically making pure profit.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: UncleBob on August 11, 2011, 10:20:47 AM
If you read official statements by Nintendo (at least, the ones I've seen) the Ambassador program isn't for people who paid $250 for their 3DS.  It's for people who bought their 3DS before the deadline (i.e.: early adopters).

I didn't pay $250 for my 3DS when I got it at launch - are you folks saying I shouldn't be eligible for the program - in spite of getting it at launch, waiting in line for 12 hours and showing if off to several people who have in turn purchased a unit?
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: oohhboy on August 11, 2011, 11:03:29 AM
Nintendo did a very logical, yet un-business like thing. By doing it like they did, they have maximised total utility not only for themselves, but their customers too. While it is true they could have gone for much greater short term utility for themselves and mealy drop the price without warning or compensation, which would have been something very quarterly business like, but it isn't an American business.

Remember, while those free games are effectively lost sales from an accounting point of view, per unit they cost next to nothing and it brought Nintendo something money can rarely buy, goodwill(For most) and word of mouth frenzy. Now, if say EA was running the show, Nintendo would have simply dropped in a bundle and called it a day till the next quarter. Nintendo normally runs a much longer game than this and were punished this year for playing the quarterly profit chase with the botched launch of the 3DS. Nintendo has the benefit of a much more understanding stock holder culture which look for more real gains than pure gambling that is Wall street.

Yes, there would be a bunch of "Gap" people who play the system that maximise their own gain, but this is one of those rare situations Nintendo chose, where everybody wins. Including me.

I brought a 3DS second hand for $300NZD, which works out to $250USD(Changes a lot daily), which is still over-priced compared to other territories(480NZD), But I would have happily paid $300NZD price had Nintendo released it fairly at this price. As I see it, those games are compensation for price gouging. While it doesn't match prices elsewhere, Nintendo retains a customer and the first customer still paid full price (I passed the difference to him). Everybody wins. And I still got the club Nintendo points, although the items suck here.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: kraken613 on August 11, 2011, 12:14:20 PM
I just got an email from Gamestop saying if you trade in an old DS Lite or newer you can get a 3DS for $99. That is a little tempting. Do any of you have issues playing DS games on the 3DS I heard it can be a bit blurry.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: Oblivion on August 11, 2011, 12:39:38 PM
I just got an email from Gamestop saying if you trade in an old DS Lite or newer you can get a 3DS for $99. That is a little tempting. Do any of you have issues playing DS games on the 3DS I heard it can be a bit blurry.


It's not blurry. It's like watching standard def tv on an HD television. It's hard to explain but it just looks off.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: Ceric on August 11, 2011, 12:52:32 PM
I just got an email from Gamestop saying if you trade in an old DS Lite or newer you can get a 3DS for $99. That is a little tempting. Do any of you have issues playing DS games on the 3DS I heard it can be a bit blurry.
No.
Thats the short answer.

The long answer is:
No, Except if there is touching blowing mechanics like in the Duet portions of Spirit Tracks.

I actually prefer it in a way. (Mostly because I don't really see a difference and I live the Circle Pad for d-pad controls, Hi NES Max.)
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: lolmonade on August 11, 2011, 12:56:00 PM
Disappointed that I was dumb enough to pay full price for a 3DS when there are such good opportunities to find them cheap now while getting the free games, but I only have myself to blame. 
 
Early adopters aren't entitled to anything other than the product they paid for as well as the extra time they get with the product before the eventual price drops.  That early time they get with the product is variable, and in no way is the early adopter entitled to a set amount of time prior to any price drops.  We decided the product was worth the initial price, and made a purchasing decision based on that information.
 
People have every right to feel stupid for paying full price when just 6 months later there's a drastic price drop.  The problem is that instead of taking responsibility for their poor judgement, people would rather blame the content provider and demand compensation for something they're not entitled to. 
 
With that being said, I'm glad those entitled people have been so loud in the past, because if they weren't, then Nintendo wouldn't feel any obligation to compensate anyone.  While I still feel foolish for purchasing at launch, I'll gladly take some portable versions of NES classics, and I haven't played any of the GBA games listed so far.  So frankly, I have little to complain about in this scenario.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: kraken613 on August 11, 2011, 02:49:38 PM
Eh, I am still turned off by the battery life so even at that price I will wait.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: TJ Spyke on August 11, 2011, 04:28:45 PM
I just got an email from Gamestop saying if you trade in an old DS Lite or newer you can get a 3DS for $99.

To clarify for others though, it's only from August 12-14 and requires a coupon available to PowerUp Rewards Pro members.
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: Mop it up on August 11, 2011, 09:33:34 PM
How do you suppose Nintendo would have regulated who had a 3DS prior to the effective immediately price drop date?
Isn't there a way to find out when a system was bought by tracking its serial number? If so, that's one thing Nintendo could have done.

Disappointed that I was dumb enough to pay full price for a 3DS when there are such good opportunities to find them cheap now while getting the free games, but I only have myself to blame.
Yeah, that's where I am. Oh well, making stupid decisions is human nature...
Title: Re: 3DS MAJOR price drop incoming + tons of free games for early adopters?
Post by: nickmitch on August 11, 2011, 10:29:46 PM
The tracking number thing would've been too difficult and would probably require retailer co-operation.